Scaffold.



PATENTED JUNE 21, 1.904.

C.. FOSTER. SCAFFOLDI APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 1s. 1903.

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No. 763,274. PATENTED JUNE 21, 1904. G. FOSTER.

SCAFFOLD.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 18. 1903.

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No. '763,274- PATENTED JUNE 21, 1904.

C. FOSTER.

SCAFFOLD.

APPLICATION FILED 11113.18. 190s.

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UNITED STATES Patented June 21, 1904.

PATENT OEEIcE.

s oAFFOLD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 763,274, dated June 21, 1904.

Application filed March 18, 1903.

To rtl/, whom. t may con/cern.-

Be it known that I, OLAIR'FosTER, a citizen of the United States, residing' at Douglaston, borough of Queens, in the county of Queens and State of New York. have invented a new and useful Scaffold, of which the following is a specication.

My invention relates to a masons platform or scaffold, and has for its object to produce a scafold that is particularly adapted for ,use in the construction of the modern steel-frame In the construction of such buildings it is customary and often very desirable after the steel frame is erected to start the masonry at two or three different levels simultaneously,and heretofore it has been necessary when this is done to set up scaffolds for each part of the masonry construction. i

' One of the objects of my invention is to produce a scaffold the supports of which are of such character as to sustain and to be used for as many platforms as maybe necessary and to lso construct and set up such supports as to make it unnecessary to shift them during the entire construction of the building.

The invention has other advantages, which will be hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a steel-frame building in the course of construction having my improvements in scaffolds applied thereto. Fig.

2 is a sectional elevation of a building in the course of construction with my invention applied thereto. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing` the same building farther advanced toward completion, illustrating my invention.

Fig'. 4 is an enlarged side view showing my Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the parts represented in Fig'. LI. Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken immediately above one of the fioorings, part of the latter being' broken away. Fig. 7 is an elevation of a short section of the scaffold, illustrating how it may be carried past a projecting' cornice of a building. y y

The scaffold in which my invention is embodied comprises a set of outriggers, a set of fiexible platform-suspending means, preferably stcel cables, carried by the outriggers,

Serial No. 148,337. LND model.)

and platforms suitably supported by and vertically adjustable upon the suspending-cables.

In the accompanying drawings, 2 2 designate outriggers. These may be of any usual or preferred construction. As shown, they consist of beams securely bolted to the steelframe structure of the building, as by means of the clamps 3. rhese beams project out from the structure and at their outer ends are perforated, as at 4, for the passage of the steel cables 5 5. I prefer that the outriggers should be arranged as high up as is convenient. Ordinarily they will be arranged near the top of the steel-frame structure, though sometimes they may be arranged at a lower level, as is represented in Fig. 2, and this is particularly the case when it is desirable to begin the masonry work before the steel frame is entirely erected. Y

As represented in the drawings, each of the Outrigger-beams 2 supports a pair of steel cables 5, and the latter are preferably connected to each other above the Outrigger by clamps 6. These hold the two cables together and rest upon the beam, operating, in conjunction with the outriggers, as supporting means for the cables. Additional means for uniting the cables to the outriggers and for suspending them may be used, if found desirable. The cables of each pair are held apart by a spacing-bar 7. This is preferably arranged close to the Outrigger and is held in place by the clamps 8, secured, respectively, to the cables. The spacing-bar is preferably provided at its ends with eyes through which the cables pass and is free to be adjusted longitudinally of the cables. The cables are of a length to extend 'downward from the outriggers to or below to the spacing-bars 7, or they may be formed of two cross-bars arranged side by side, as shown in Fig'. 6, bolted together, the cables being confined between the bars and bolts.

IOO

These putlogs may be adjusted with the utmost nicety, being held in place upon the cables by means of clamps 8, applied to the cables, upon which clamps the putlogs rest.

In Fig. l the scaffold is represented as being supported from outriggers arranged near the top of the steel-frame structure. Upon the cables suspended from the outriggers are represented three platforms-one opposite the third story, another opposite the eighth story, and a third opposite the twelfth story. It will be observed that these three platforms are all supported from the same cables and also that each platform is quite independent of the others and may be adjusted up or down without reference to the other platforms, or any platform may be entirely removed without interfering with the others.

In Fig. 2 I have illustrated an advantage that is incident to my invention and which is quite novel in the art. As already stated, it is sometimes desirable to rig the scaffold before the steel frame of the building is entirely erected, and in this figure it is represented that this has been done, the Outrigger-s at A being located at the eleventh floor of a sixteen-story structure. This permits the masonry-work to be started at any of the floors below the eleventh while the upper part of the steel structure is being completed. I/Vhen this is done, the cables are connected with the outriggers at A at points intermediate their length, suf'cient of the cable being reserved to extend to the top of the structure, and this is coiled up, as represented in Figs. 2, 3, and 5. Vhen the frame structure is completed, the portions of the cables above the outriggers A are carried up and secured to a set of outriggers near the top of the frame, as indicated at B. This can be done without interfering with the supports for the cables at A and without interfering in any wise with the use of the scaffold. After the cables are properly secured to the outriggers at the level B they are preferably released from the outriggers at the level A, and these are entirely removed, as indicated in Fig. 3.

In Fig. 7 I have represented how a scaffold made according to my invention may be carried past a cornice projecting out so far beyond the face of' the building as to be in the way of the inner cables 5. By reason of the flexibility of the cables and of the putlogs being mounted freely thereupon one set of the cables may be deflected to pass the obstruction without destroying the continuity of the scaffold, while the platforms both above and below such deflection may be adjusted and arranged as desired.

invention, however, this is not required, as the cables are left after the masonry-work is completed and may be used to support the platforms on which the workmen who do this finishing-work stand.

I am aware that platforms for workmen have been supended by flexible cables from thc roofs or upper portions of structures; but heretofore, so far as I am aware, in such cases ropes have been employed for this purpose and the platforms were adjusted by blockand-tackle contrivances about which the ropes pass. This has rendered it impossible to support more than a single platform from one set of suspending-cables. I am also aware that it has been proposed to supportaplurality of platforms for masons use upon metal bars suspended from outriggers; but it will be readily understood that such a scaffold must necessarily be quite limited in size, both on account of the impracticability of using excessively-long metal bars and because of the great weight which would be incident to a scaffold ofl this kind arranged to extend to more than three or four stories in vertical dimensions.

I believe that I am the first to devise a continuous scafold that may be extended upward above the point of support to a higher support, also to devise a scaffold having flexible suspending means upon which may be supported a plurality of platforms independently adjustable, and also to have combined the suspending-cables, putlogs for the flooring of the platforms, and rope or cable clamps adjustable upon the cables for supporting the putlogs.

If it be found desirable at any time to use a platform of unusual width, this is quite feasible, as represented in Figs. 2 and 3 at C.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

l. In a scaffold, the combination of a set Ofbutriggers, supporting-cables suspended therefrom, putlogs adjustable vertically along' the said cables, and clamps arranged to be secured to the cables upon which the putlogs rest, substantially as set forth.

2. In a scaffold, the combination of a set of flexible cables, platforms supported there by, outriggers from which the cables are suspended, and means for making the cables fast to the said outriggers at points between their ends, the upper portions of the cables extending beyond the outriggers, whereby such portions are arranged to be continued upward and suitably supported without interfering with the platforms below such outriggers, substantially as set forth.

3. In a scaffold, the combination of a series of outriggers, a series of flexible cables rigidly connected to and supended from the outriggers, spacing-bars for holding the cables apart, adjustable clamps adapted to be secured IOO IIO

IIS

of outriggers, flexible supporting means suspended therefrom, and iiooring connected with the flexible supporting means between the lower ends thereof and the outrig'gers, the flexibility of the suspending means permitting them to be deiieeted at points intermediate their upper and lower ends Without destroying their Continuity, substantially as set forth.

' CLAIR FOSTER. Witnesses:

A. MoGoNAGLE, L. J. MoRToN. 

